Tony Blair gives £106,000 to Labour’s election campaign

The donation is believed to be the biggest yet from the former Prime Minister Getty Images

Tony Blair has donated £106,000 to the Labour Party by giving £1,000 each to the local campaigns in its 106 target seats.

The former Prime Minister, who has made some criticisms of Ed Miliband’s strategy, wants to rally behind the Labour leader as the May election approaches. He is expected to make a public appeal for people to vote Labour but is not likely to share a platform with Mr Miliband.

In a letter to candidates in the battleground seats, Mr Blair said: “This is where the election will be won for Labour and that is why I am making a donation to all 106 campaigns. As one of our key seat candidates, you know better than most the scale of the challenge we face – but I have every confidence that with your drive, determination and organisational skills, you will deliver a successful local campaign that will also see our party returned to government.”

Election Analysis: The Key Voters

Election Analysis: The Key Voters

1/6
Settled Silvers

These are the comfortably-off over-60s, still in work or drawing a decent pension – or both – who are enjoying their entitlements such as the Winter Fuel Allowance, free bus passes and free TV licence. They are worried about immigration and Europe. Both the Conservatives – who are pledging to keep benefits for wealthier pensioners – and Ukip want their votes

Micha Theiner

2/6
Squeezed Semis

Slightly older than the Harassed Hipsters, they are the second key group for Labour’s family-focused election strategy. They are married couples on low to middle incomes who own unpretentious semi-detached homes in suburban areas. In 2001, these were the Pebbledash People sought by the Conservatives. Now the pebbledash is gone and a modest conservatory has been built at the back

Micha Theiner

3/6
Aldi Woman

In 1997 and 2001 she was Worcester Woman – a middle-class Middle Englander shopping at Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. Today, the age of austerity means she still goes to Waitrose for her basic food shop but cannily switches to Aldi for her luxury bargains such as Parma ham and prosecco. Identified by Caroline Flint, she is a key target of both Labour and the Conservatives

Micha Theiner

4/6
Glass Ceiling Woman

In her thirties or forties, she has an established career under her belt, perhaps in the “marzipan layer” – one position below the still male-dominated senior executive level. She is now, according to Nick Clegg, forced into making the “heart-breaking choice” between staying at home to bring up her children and going to work and forking out for high-cost, round-the-clock childcare

5/6
Harassed Hipsters

One of the two key groups identified by Labour as crucial to hand Ed Miliband the keys to Downing Street. Well-paid professional couples, often with children, they live in diverse urban and metropolitan areas rather than the suburbs. More comfortably off than most swing voters, they are time poor – struggling to balance raising a young family with busy work schedules

Micha Theiner

6/6
Neo-Greens

These are mainly first-time voters, though some are in their twenties – students and digital-age generation renters helping to fuel the “Green Surge”. Idealists, but with no tribal loyalty to any party, they are anti-austerity, middle class, living in urban areas. Despite studying at university or recently graduated, they are struggling to find decent jobs and want cheaper housing and a higher minimum wage

Micha Theiner

It is believed to be Mr Blair’s biggest donation to his party. He gave £6,000 in 2009 and 2012 and provided staff support worth £76,000 in 2010.

There have been tensions between Blairites and Mr Miliband after he positioned himself as “not Blair” and argued it was time to move on from New Labour.

A Labour spokesman said: “We’re delighted that Tony Blair has given so generously."